Lamp control mechanism for message



A. D. EITZEN LAMP CONTROL MECHANISM FOR MESSAGE TRANSMITTING SYSTEMS 6 39 1 5 1 m. &

ratrnnrrlrli' J INVENTOR Sept. 15, 1936. A; D. EITZEN LAMP CONTROLMECHANISM FOR MESSAGE TRANSMITTING SYSTEMS Original Filed March 10, 19302 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTOR Y Reissued Sept. 15, 1936 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE LAMP CONTROL MECHANISM FOR MESSAGE TRANSMITTING SYSTEMSOriginal No. 1,908,333, dated May 9, 1933, Serial No. 434,539, March 10,1930. Application for reissue October 23, 1934, Serial No. 749,650

24 Claims.

My invention relates to means for controlling the lamp circuits ofprojecting apparatus operated in conjunction with message transmittingor receiving instruments of the tape printing type.

The principal object is to control the lamp circuits of any or all ofthe projectors in the system from devices associated in the circuit of atape printing machine, such for instance as the controlling switchmechanism of the corresponding tape printing machine; and specificallyto control the lamp circuit by means of a relay which is operated by theswitch and relay mechanism of the printing machine and in turn actuatesa mercury switch in the house current line and in circuit with theprojector lamp, so that when the controlling switch of themessage-sending station in the system is moved to operative position thelamps of all the projectors in the system are lit by means associatedwith the individual tape printing and projecting units.

The motor of the tape printer draws only a small current while theprojector lamp is of high wattage, and draws more current than can behandled through the switch and relay of the tape printer. By arrangingeach projector lamp in an independent circuit, controlled by anindividual switch and relay from the controlling relay of thecorresponding tape printer and especially when a mercury switch is usedin the lamp circuit, the necessary high amperage is successfully handledand all the lamps in the system may be lit or extinguishedcoincidentally with the closing and opening of the motor circuits of allthe printing machines in the system, withoutany complication or effectupon the action of the printing machine or its switch or relay mechanismand without necessity for running any line circuits through the buildingto interconnect the projector lamps of the different units.

One example of the utility of the invention is in the installation ofsuch a message transmitting system in a hospital where it is desired tosimultaneously visually present a message such as a call for aphysician, on all of a plurality of screens located in different roomsetc., and the lighting of all of the projector lamps simultaneously withplacing the printing machines in condition for operation, causes thescreens to be illuminated and directs attention to the message to bethrown upon the screen; and similarly when the transmission orprojection of the message is discontinued the lamps are simultaneouslyextinguished and the screens are darkened.

The invention also includes provision for operating the printingmachines or any of them without lighting the corresponding projectorlamp. This is valuable in some cases, as in an intercommunicating systemwhen it may be desired to transmit a message for reading directly fromthe tapes of the various printers and without throwing the legend uponthe screen for general observation, as for example, in. uses analogousto stock quotation transmitting systems, where it may be desired totransmit a message for the observation of brokers without throwing themessage on the screen for observation by customers.

These and other features, capabilities and advantages of the inventionwill appear from the subjoined detail description of one embodimentthereof, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is adiagrammatic view of a system and mechanism embodying the invention inone form;

Fig. 2 is a detail view of a modified switch operating mechanism; and

Fig. 3 is a diagram of a somewhat modified controlling circuit for thelamp switch relay.

In Fig. l, I-I are any known or suitable tape printers or telegraphicprinters, as viewed from the rear, representing any desired number in asystem, any or all of which may be combined transmitters and receiversor any number of which may be arranged for operation as receivers only.Each of these machines includes a motor 2, and a controlling switch 3for closing and opening the message transmitting circuit including arelay magnet for a relay mechanism 4, represented by the conductors 5,connecting all the printers, and simultaneously starting and stoppingall of the motors. The switches are so arranged that the switch at thatstation which for the time being is the message transmitting stationwill act to put all of the printers in operative or inoperativecondition.

Associated with each printer is projecting apparatus comprising aprojector proper G, enclosing the lamp 1, a tape puller B for drawingthe tape from the printer and across the light aperture of theprojector, and a switch 9 controlled by a follower l0 running on a loopll of the tape I2 to control operation of the tape puller in accordancewith the action of the printer, all as well understood by skilledpersons, and as set forth in my previous applications, since issued asPatents Nos. 1,974,153 and 1,981,858. The projector of course includessuitable lenses, the objective lenses l3 only being represented and eachob- Jective is arranged to throw the light beam, with or withoutinterposed mirrors, on a surface, such as a conveniently located screen(not shown).

For proper illumination, the lamps i are of high amperage, and for theirproper control as and for the purposes above referred to, each lamp isconnected as by conductors l4 and a plug l5 to the house circuit, and asuitable switch, preferably a mercury switch I6, is interposed in one ofthe conductors. This switch as illustrated is of a known type,consisting of a sealed glass shell or cartridge enclosing a body ofmercury and also having pockets I1 containing separated contacts or wireterminals, outer portions of which are connected into one of theconductors M, as shown. The switch cartridge is carried by a support l8mounted to oscillate on the center l9, and is operated by the armature2B of a relay 2|, the armature being connected to the switch support asby a link 22. The armature is iuicrumed at 23 and is operated by a relaymagnet 24 which acts in opposition to a spring 25 which normally movesthe armature away from the magnet and tilts the switch to circuitbreaking position.

The controlling relay 4 having a relay magnet in the messagetransmitting circuit 5, 5 of the tape printer I has one of its contactsor terminals connected to one of the motor terminals by a conductor 30,and from the other motor terminal a conductor 3| runs to one terminal ofrelay magnet 24. From the other terminal of this magnet a conductor 32runs to one of the prongs of a plug 33 and from the other plug prong aconductor 34 runs to the other contact or terminal of theprinter-controlling relay 4.

By the described arrangement each tape printer with its associatedprojector may be connected into the house circuit by merely insertingthe two plugs in conveniently located plug sockets, and there is nonecessity for inter-wiring of the different units and especially nonecessity for interwiring for their lamp circuits. The circuit for thelamp is also kept separate from the power circuit for the tape printerso that the heavy current draw of the lamp has no effect upon theprinting machine or its switch or relay mechanism. In the particularembodiment of the invention illustrated, whenever the controlling switchof the particular station which is used as the messagetransmittingstation is closed, the result will be the electric transmission of amessage whose operation and effect is that each of the printersrepresenting the receiving stations is placed in operative position, allof the printer motors are started and the transmission line between theprinters is energized, and simultaneously the current flow to each ofthe printer motors energizes the magnet of the corresponding relay 2!,thus causing the corresponding mercury switch to move to circuit closingposition and lighting the lamp, so that all of the projectors in thesystem illuminate their respective screens to call attention to themessage about to be transmitted. When any controlling switch is moved tooff position the printers are deenergized and simultaneously the relaymagnets 24 are deenergized and all of the lamps are extinguished.

It will be seen from the above, that the relays 2| are so associatedwith the transmissionline that they are responsive to only certainchanges in condition produced in the transmission line for controllingthe operation of such relays, namely, energization and de-energizationof the transmission line by operating the controlling switch, and arenot responsive to the changes in condition produced in the transmissionline by transmitting a message .over the line while the printers are inactive condition. Therefore, when the condition of the transmission lineis changed by moving the controlling switch to energize the same, themagnets of the relays 2| are energized, thus causing their associatedmercury switches to move to circuit closing position and start theoperation of the projector, and the relays 2! will maintain theprojector in operative condition even though the condition of thetransmission line is being constantly changed by the message impulsessent over it to the printing machine until the condition of thetransmission line is changed from an energized state to a de-en'ergizedstate by operating the controlling switch.

It will thus be observed that the messages of whatever station happensto be used as the measage-transmitting station are of two types, onewhich transmits to all the receiving stations the message that the lampsare to be whereupon this message is automatically carried out as theresult of the impulse which created this message, and, second, one whichcontrols the printer so that it will execute the reproduction in printedform what this type of message transmits. In the system illustrated inFig. 1 these two types of messages follow each other and areinterdependent to the extent that the message which calls for actuationof the printer cannot be sent until after the message has first, by theclosing of the control switch, been sent to all the receiving stationsto light the lamps. In Fig. 2, a selectivity is provided for by virtueof which a message which calls for the printer to operate may be sentindependently of the message which calls for lighting the lamp. In theseveral systems, however, where the ticker is included in an electriccircuit or where such a circuit includes a motor for the ticker, it isapparent that in every such case, whether the arrangement illustrated inFigure i or in Figure 2 is made use of, that ticker circuit isresponsive to establish an electric circuit in the Wiring which includesthe ticker wheneve a message of either type is transmitted to theticker. In other words, the message which causes the lamp switch to beactuated may be transmitted by closing the message-transmitting circuit,thereby closing the ticker circuit and there-by in turn causingoperation of the lamp switch to the on position (as in Fig. l), or,after closing t' c message-transmitting circuit, sending a sp ialimpulse through the message-transmitting circuit which will cause thelamp switch to act 'atecl to the on (or oiT) position of the lamp sw ohby Way of special message through the ticker circuit which operates thelamp switch without involving the message-printing function of theticker (as in Fig. 2).

Fig. 2 shows a lamp-switch control mechanism arranged to permit messagetransmissi 1 selectively with or without lighting the p lamps, in order,for example, to a to early above. In this .ngen 2| may be associated asbei'orbut armature 2:] has connected to it a spring-operated pawl 58acting on a circular ratchet 4 i which may have a are twelve teeth onthe wheel, as shown, the multiplying ratio as between gear 44 and thepinion will be six to one, in order to rotate the crank pin 46 one-halfrevolution about the pinion axis each time the pawl moves the ratchetwheel one tooth space. This type of switch mechanism may be included inany or all of the projecting units.

When the operator at a control station closes the switch of the printingmachine, to put the entire system in operating condition, if the partsof the lamp circuit control mechanism are in the position of Fig. 2, theenergizing of magnet 24 will pull down the armature and pawl 40 willrotate the ratchet wheel one tooth space, thus rotating pinion one-halfrevolution, whereby link 41 will tilt the switch support to circuitbreaking position, so that the printing system has been placed inoperation while the lamp circuits are broken. To close all the lampcircuits for projection simultaneously with message transmission, it isonly necessary to move the controlling switch to off position tode-energize the relay magnet 24 and then again immediately to operativeposition, whereupon the relay magnet 24 will again be energized andpinion 45 rotated another half-turn, or back to the position of Fig. 2,thus closing the lamp circuit. As a result of this arrangement the lampcircuit is closed only when the switch mechanism connecting such circuitwith the relay magnet 24 is actuated by repetitious actions of the relaymagnet 24 and in order to produce such repetitious actions of the relaymagnet 24 it is necessary to change repeatedly the condition of thetransmission circuit from a deenergized state to an energized state bythe repetitious actions of the controlling switch. By again moving thecontrolling switch to off position and then again immedately tooperative position the condition is again attained where the messagesrecorded by the printing machine are not projected upon the screen. Inthis way the operator has selective control of the projectors in respectto their illumination, by the simple means of operating the printercontrolling switch either one or two times.

Fig. 3 shows that the circuit for the relay magnet 24 may be different,or difierently arranged in relation to the circuit of the motor 2 of thetape printer or printing telegraph I. Thus, in Fig. 3 the relay magnet24 is in parallel or shunt relation to the motor circuit, one lead 55running from one side of the motor circuit to one terminal of the relaymagnet and another conductor 51 running from the other side of the motorcircuit to the other terminal of the relay magnet. The lamp circuitincluding the mercury switch Ilia is easily traced without explanation.The operation is the same as explained in connection with Fig. 1.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made in thedetails of construction without departing from the general spirit of theinvention set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with a projector including a lamp, a messagetransmitting circuit including the relay magnet of a controlling relayand a tape printer including a motor and a motor circuit operativelyassociated with said relay magnet, a lamp circuit including said lampand a switch, and a second relay including a relay magnet for operatingthe switch associated with said lamp circuit, said first relay magnetbeing energized when a message is transmitted to said printer in turn toclose the motor circuit to operate the motor, and the relay magnet ofsaid second relay being thereupon energized when current flows throughsaid motor circuit in turn to close said lamp switch.

2. In apparatus or a system of the class de= scribed, in combinationwith a message transmitting circuit including the relay magnet of acontrolling relay, a tape printer including a motor and a motor circuit,operatively associated with said relay magnet, and a projector includinga lamp, an independent lamp circuit including a mercury switch, and asecond relay connected to operate the switch, the relay magnet for saidlatter relay being included in said motor circuit, whereby the lampcircuit is closed when the printer is put in operative condition, andbroken when the printer is inoperative, the relay magnet of thecontrolling relay beng energized when a message is transmitted to saidprinter in turn to close the motor circuit to operate the motor, and therelay magnet of said second relay being thereupon energized when currentflows through said motor circuit in turn to close said mercury switch.

3. In combination with a projector including a lamp and a tape printerincluding a motor, a motor circuit and a controlling relay in saidcircuit, a lamp circuit including said lamp and a switch, a relay foroperating the switch and included in said motor circuit, and meansintermediate the lamp circuit controlling relay and the lamp switch andacting selectively by repetitious actions of the tape printercontrolling relay to illuminate or extinguish the lamp while the printeris in active condition.

4. In combination with a projector including a lamp and a tape printerincluding a motor, a motor circuit and a controlling relay in saidcircuit. a lamp circuit including said lamp and a switch, a relay foroperating the switch and included in said motor circuit, and meansintermediate the lamp circuit relay and the switch for moving the switchto closed circuit position by one actuation of the relay and to opencircuit position on the next actuation of the relay.

5. A communication system of the character described comprising amessage transmitting circuit including the relay magnet of a controllingrelay, and a plurality of units, each unit comprising a printerincluding a motor and a motor circuit operatively associated with saidcontrolling relay, and a projector including a lamp, an independent lampcircuit including a mercury switch, and a second relay connected tooperate the switch, the relay magnet for said second relay beingincluded in said motor circuit, whereby the lamp circuit is closed whenthe printer is put in operative condition, and broken when the printeris inoperative, said controlling relay being actuated when a message istransmitted to said printer in turn to close the motor circuit tooperate the motor, and the relay magnet of said second relay beingenergized when current flows through said motor circuit to close saidswitch.

6. A communication system of the character described comprising aplurality of units, each unit comprising a printer including a motor, amotor circuit and a controlling relay in said circuit, a projectorincluding a lamp, a lamp circuit including said lamp and a switch, arelay for operating the switch and included in said motor circuit, andmeans intermediate the lamp circuit controlling relay and the lampswitch and acting selectively by repetitious action of the tape printercontrolling relay to illuminate or extinguish the lamp while the printeris in active condition.

7. A communication system of the character described comprising amessage transmitting circuit operatively associated to operate acontrolling relay, and a plurality of units, each unit comprising aprinter including a motor and a motor circuit operatively associatedwith said controlling relay, and a projector including a lamp, anindependent lamp circuit including a mercury switch, a second relayconnected to operate the switch, the relay magnet for said second relaybeing included in said motor circuit, whereby the lamp circuit is closedwhen the printer is put in operative condition, and broken when theprinter is inoperative, and means intermediate the lamp circuit relayand the switch for moving the switch to closed circuit position by oneactuation of the relay and to open circuit position on the nextactuation of the relay, said controlling relay being actuated when amessage is transmitted to said printer in turn to close the motorcircuit to operate the motor, and the relay magnet for said second relaybeing energized when current flows through said motor circuit in turn toclose said lamp switch.

8. In combination with a message transmitting circuit including therelay magnet of a controlling relay, a projector including a lamp, and atape printer including a motor and a motor cir cuit operativelyassociated to be controlled by said controlling relay, a lamp circuitincluding said lamp and a switch, a second relay for operating theswitch and included in said motor circuit, and means intermediate saidsecond relay and the lamp switch and acting selectively by repetitiousactions of the tape printer controlling relay to illuminate orextinguish the lamp while the printer is in active condition.

9. In combination with a message transmitting circuit including therelay magnet of a controlling relay, a projector including a lamp, and atape printer including a motor and a motor circuit operativelyassociated to be controlled by said controlling relay, a lamp circuitincluding said lamp and a switch, a second relay for operating theswitch and included in said motor circuit, and means intermediate saidsecond relay and said switch for moving the switch to closed circuitposition by one actuation of the second relay and to open circuitposition on the next actuation of said second relay.

10. A communication system of the character described comprising amessage transmitting circuit operatively associated to operate acontrolling relay and a plurality of units, each unit comprising aprinter including a motor and a motor circuit controlled by saidcontrolling relay, a projector including a lamp, a lamp circuitincluding said lamp and a switch, a second relay for operating theswitch and included in said motor circuit, and means intermediate saidsecond relay and said switch and acting selectively by repetitiousaction of the tape printer controlling relay to illuminate or extinguishthe lamp while the printer is in active condition.

11. In apparatus or a system of the class described, in combination witha message transmitting circuit including the relay magnet of acontrolling relay, a tape printer including a motor and a motor circuitoperatively associated with said relay magnet, and a projector including a lamp, an independent lamp circuit including a switch, and a secondrelay connected to operate the switch, the relay magnet for said latterrelay being included in said motor circuit, whereby the lamp circuit isclosed when the printer is put in operative condition, and broken whenthe printer is inoperative, the relay magnet of the controlling relaybeing energized when a message is transmitted to said printer in turn toclose the motor circuit to operate the motor, and the relay magnet ofsaid second relay being thereupon energized when current flows throughsaid motor circuit in turn to close said switch.

12. A communication system of the character described comprising amessage transmitting circuit including the relay magnet of a controllingrelay, and a plurality of units, each unit comprising a printerincluding a motor and a motor circuit operatively associated with saidcontrolling relay, and a projector including a lamp, an independent lampcircuit including a switch, and a second relay connected to operate theswitch, the relay magnet for said second relay being included in saidmotor circuit, whereby the lamp circuit is closed when the printer isput in operative condition, and broken when the printer is inoperative,said controlling relay being actuated when a message is transmitted tosaid printer in turn to close the motor circuit to operate the motor,and the relay magnet of said second relay being energized when currentflows through said motor circuit to close said switch.

13. A communication system of the character described comprising amessage transmitting circuit operatively associated to operate acontrolling relay, and a plurality of units, each unit comprising aprinter including a motor and a motor circuit operatively associatedwith said controlling relay, and a projector including a lamp, anindependent lamp circuit including a switch, a second relay connected tooperate the switch, the relay magnet for said second relay beingincluded in said motor circuit, whereby the lamp circuit is closed whenthe printer is put in operative condition, and broken when the printeris inoperative, and means intermediate the lamp circuit relay and theswitch for moving the switch to closed circuit position by one actuationof the relay and to open circuit position on the next actuation of therelay, said controlling relay being actuated when a message istransmitted to said printer in turn to close the motor circuit tooperate the motor, and the relay magnet for said second relay beingenergized when current flows through said motor circuit in turn to closesaid lamp switch.

14. In a telegraph system, a message transmitting circuit connecting atransmitting station having means for sending line impulses with areceiving station, tape printing mechanism at the receiving station forrecording a message transmitted over said circuit, a projector includinga lamp operatively associated with said tape printing mechanism, a lampcircuit including said lamp and a switch, a relay at said receivingstation actuated from the transmitting station over said transmittingcircuit and means intermediate said relay and the lamp switch and actingselectively by repetitious actions of said relay to close or open saidswitch, thereby selectively bringing the projector into and out ofoperation.

15. In a telegraph system, a message transmitting circuit connecting atransmitting station having means for sending line impulses with areceiving station, tape printing mechanism at the receiving stationincluded in said transmitting circuit and including a, circuit, aprojector including a lamp operatively associated with said tapeprinting mechanism, a lamp circuit including said lamp and a switch, andselecting mechanism operatively connected to said switch and saidprinter circuit and adapted to be actuated from the transmitting stationover said transmitting circuit to selectively open or close the switchin said lamp circuit.

16. In combination with a projector including a lamp, of a messagetransmitting circuit including the relay magnet of a controlling relayand a. tape printer operatively associated with said relay magnet, alamp circuit including said lamp and a switch, a second relay includinga relay magnet for operating the switch associated with said lampcircuit, and operative connections between the message transmittingcircuit and the relay magnet of said second relay, said first relaymagnet being energized when said message transmitting circuit isafiected in turn to effect the operation of said printer and the relaymagnet of said second relay being energized when said printer isoperated in turn to close said lamp switch.

17. In apparatus or a system of the class described, in combination witha message transmitting circuit including the relay magnet of acontrolling relay, of a tape printer operatively associated with saidrelay magnet, a projector including a lamp, an independent lamp circuitincluding a switch and a second relay connected to the printer foroperating the switch, said first relay magnet being energized when saidmessage transmitting circuit is affected in turn to efiect the operationof said printer, and the relay magnet of said second relay beingenergized when said printer is operated in turn to close said switchwhereby the lamp circuit is closed when the printer is put in operativecondition and broken when the printer is inoperative.

18. In combination with a projector including a lamp and a tape printerincluding a circuit and a controlling relay for said circuit, of a lampcircuit including said lamp and a switch, a relay for operating theswitch and included in said printer circuit, and means operativelyconnected to the lamp circuit controlling relay and the lamp switch andacting selectively by repetitious actions of the tape printercontrolling relay to illuminate or extinguish the lamp while the printeris in active condition.

19. In combination with a projector including a lamp, 2. messagetransmitting circuit, a tape printer included in said transmittingcircuit and including a circuit, a controlling relay operativelyconnected to said transmitting circuit and said printer circuit, a lampcircuit including said lamp and a switch, a second relay for operatingthe switch and included in said printer circuit, and means operativelyconnected to the lamp circuit relay and the switch for moving the latterto closed circuit position by one actuation of the relay and to opencircuit position on the next actuation of the relay.

20. The combination of a projector including a lamp, amessage-transmitting circuit including the relay magnet of a relay and atape printer operatively associated with said relay magnet, a lampcircuit including said lamp, a switch, and a second relay including arelay magnet for operating the switch associated with said lamp circuit,said first relay being energized by electric impulses originating in themessage-transmitting circuit in turn to effect the operation of saidprinter and the relay magnet of said second relay being operativelyassociated with said first relay to be energized when said first relayis energized in turn to close said lamp switch whereby the on or offcondition of the lamp is the direct automatic sequence of a conditionremotely impressed on the message-transmitting circuit.

21. The combination of a projector including a lamp, amessage-transmitting circuit for remotely controlling the on and offposition of the lamp, a recorder system operatively associated in saidcircuit, a lamp circuit including said lamp and a switch, aswitch-controlling device operatively associated with said recordersystem and with the lamp switch, said device being responsive to anoperation originating in said message-transmitting circuit and inaccordance therewith actuating said switch to establish an on or an offcondition of said lamp.

22. The combination with a motor-driven ticker, of wiring for connectingthe motor of said ticker to a source of current-and responsive toestablish an electric circuit'through said motor when a message istransmitted to said ticker, a lamp, wiring connecting said lamp to asource of current, and means including a switch controlled by thecurrrent passing through the wiring of said motor to control the currentpassing through the wiring of said lamp.

23. The combination with a motor-driven ticker, of wiring for connectingthe motor of said ticker to a source of current and responsive toestablish an electric circuit through said motor when a message istransmitted to said ticker, a lamp, wiring connecting said lamp to saidsource of current, and means including a switch con trolled by thecurrent passing through the wiring of said motor to control the currentpassing through the wiring of said lamp.

24. The combination with a. ticker, of wiring for including said tickerin an electric circuit and responsive to establish an electric circuitwhen a message is transmitted to said ticker, a lamp, wiring forincluding said lamp in an electric circuit, and means including a switchcontrolled by the current passing through the wiring of said ticker tocontrol the current passing through the wiring of said lamp.

AUGUST D. EITZEN.

